air-traffic control

[ air-traf-ik ]

noun

1. a government service that facilitates the safe and orderly movement of aircraft within and between airports by receiving and processing data from radar and devices that monitor local weather conditions and by maintaining radio contact with pilots.

air-traffic control

noun

1. an organization that determines the altitude, speed, and direction at which planes fly in a given area, giving instructions to pilots by radio

Derived Forms

• air-traffic controller, noun

Other Words From

• air-traffic controller noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of air-traffic control¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

The pilot asked air-traffic control for permission to climb from 32,000 to 38,000 feet to avoid the bad weather.

From The Daily Beast

The pilot had earlier called air-traffic control reporting heavy clouds and asked to move up to 38,000 feet from 32,000 feet.

From The Daily Beast

The flight path remained close to the Indonesian archipelago, well within what is the normal reach of air traffic control radar.

From The Daily Beast

The signal, standard on all aircraft, set off a series of alarms at air traffic control towers in the area.

From The Daily Beast

That means almost all the air-traffic-control towers, the meat inspectors, the food pantries, and the research grants.

From The Daily Beast